Virgil van Dijk defends the amount of time off given to the Liverpool squad by head coach Arne Slot after the 3-2 loss to Manchester United
Virgil van Dijk arrives at Old Trafford prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool on May 03, 2026
Virgil van Dijk arrives at Old Trafford prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool on May 03, 2026(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Virgil van Dijk has defended the amount of time off given to Liverpool players by Arne Slot, insisting it is not the cause of the Reds' disappointing season.
With the Premier League champions' schedule easing to one game a week following their exit from the FA Cup and Champions League in April, Slot has been keen to give his players some time off at the start of matchweeks.
Many took the opportunity to take a short break last week before reconvening at the AXA Training Centre to step up their preparations for Sunday's trip to Manchester United.
Such practice has been common this season, with many taking advantage by jetting out to various European destinations with their families.
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However, a 3-2 defeat at United - which was the Reds' 11th of the campaign - has seen the wisdom of the breaks questioned by some, particularly after a slow start at Old Trafford, where the hosts went 2-0 up inside 15 minutes.
Reds skipper Van Dijk pushed back on the perception that the players aren't training fully, however, saying they are professional and mature enough to approach things correctly.
"I’m not sure it’s a holiday," Van Dijk said. "It’s a city trip. It was only one day [away].
"But I think if you have one day off, and you don’t have many days off, they decide what they want to do with their families.
"We are not kids. Everyone is an adult. This week we have an early kick-off on Saturday [against Chelsea]. So preparation is on that. Yesterday we were in a hotel.
"Today we played. So two days away with the family again. It’s not that we have a holiday whatsoever.
"I wish we had a couple more days off at times because I think it works both ways.
"You see Pep Guardiola giving Manchester City three days off the last weeks in a row and they are doing pretty well. It is finding the right balance.
"I can understand if people think we are not training and, when results are not there, it could be a reason for why we are not getting results.
"Like anyone else, personally I want this to be solved. I want us to experience what I have had over my time here.
"I want us to be successful. I want to consistent with the team, winning games, fighting. We want to get the job done.
"At the minute, we are just disappointed. Consistency is the most difficult thing in any job you do. But it is also the best way to be successful and get results.
"We have three more games now then the World Cup. We have to realise next season this season cannot be repeated. It is unacceptable."
The Reds have now been beaten 18 times across all competitions, which excludes the Community Shield shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in August.
It's the worst run in the league since the 2014/15 term and Van Dijk refused to hide from the unwanted statistics, adding: "I’m not here to make excuses. It’s been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season.
"We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever. We have to turn it around and make sure these things don’t happen. It’s not Liverpool.
"Every injury we have is a separate case. I don’t think anyone can predict Alex Isak having a leg break. I don’t think anyone can predict Wata (Wataru Endo) having a proper foot injury.
"I don’t think you can predict Gio (Giovanni Leoni) having an ACL or Giorgi (Mamardashvili) having stitches just below his patella tendon. There are a couple of others as well.
"It’s tricky. You know, having two goalkeepers out as well at once. But it’s the situation. I can stand here and say that is the reason we are where we are but I wouldn’t do that.
"It’s down to us, all of us, to turn it around. After the season, we make sure that this doesn’t happen."